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On my walk to work this morning, I was briefly blocked by a woman in a manual hospital-issue wheelchair about to board a bus. While she was waiting for the bus's ramp to unfold, she apologized and backed up on the sidewalk so I and a guy on a bike could get through. I thanked her and walked between her and the bus and on my way.
About 30 seconds later, I'm not sure why, but I turned back around to look at her. The ramp was unfolded and she was trying to roll up it to the bus. But the ramp was pretty steep, and she was struggling. She tried once, and then twice, to roll up. On her third try, I watched horrified as the back wheels of the chair made it to the ramp, and then the entire chair tipped backwards.
I found myself glad once again that I seem to be immune to the bystander effect. I ripped off my headphones and ran back to the bus. Thankfully, the woman seemed OK. I asked her if she was OK, and then if I could help her up. (I'm not sure where I learned this, but I always ask people, even in situations like this where the task to be done is obvious, if I can help them or touch them. It's a dignity thing.) As I started to help her up, I asked if she could stand, and thankfully she said yes. By this time another gentleman had gotten off the half-full bus, and he and I pulled her up. I asked her if she had hit her head, and she said she hadn't. The driver was off the bus too at this point, and he held the chair while she sat down in it. Then he (without asking) started to push her up the ramp and onto the bus. At this point I figured there wasn't more I could do, and calling 911 didn't seem warranted either, so I left.
I walked down the block, and as I turned the corner a minute later, I noticed that the bus was still sitting at the stop for some reason.
Good morning.
About 30 seconds later, I'm not sure why, but I turned back around to look at her. The ramp was unfolded and she was trying to roll up it to the bus. But the ramp was pretty steep, and she was struggling. She tried once, and then twice, to roll up. On her third try, I watched horrified as the back wheels of the chair made it to the ramp, and then the entire chair tipped backwards.
I found myself glad once again that I seem to be immune to the bystander effect. I ripped off my headphones and ran back to the bus. Thankfully, the woman seemed OK. I asked her if she was OK, and then if I could help her up. (I'm not sure where I learned this, but I always ask people, even in situations like this where the task to be done is obvious, if I can help them or touch them. It's a dignity thing.) As I started to help her up, I asked if she could stand, and thankfully she said yes. By this time another gentleman had gotten off the half-full bus, and he and I pulled her up. I asked her if she had hit her head, and she said she hadn't. The driver was off the bus too at this point, and he held the chair while she sat down in it. Then he (without asking) started to push her up the ramp and onto the bus. At this point I figured there wasn't more I could do, and calling 911 didn't seem warranted either, so I left.
I walked down the block, and as I turned the corner a minute later, I noticed that the bus was still sitting at the stop for some reason.
Good morning.
no subject
that's really great even with anxiety you can just act and not agonize over if you're overreacting or being too pushy or whatever else. speaking of humanity though sometimes things like that, which highlight the frailty of people, really freak me the fuck out. it does happen a lot on busses. people who can barely walk and have some like, mcdonalds uniform on so clearly they're on their feet all day anyhow. i don't think it's pity, but it's just something about like how hard it must be to deal with that (whatever it is). i try not to dwell on it, or ignore those sorts of uncomfortable encounters entirely, but, yeah. can keep you thinking on and off all day.